Red Cross / EU Office

Hungarian Red Cross

Address:

Arany János utca 31
Magyar Vöröskereszt
1367 - Budapest 5, PF. 121
Tel: +36-1-3741338
Fax: +36-1-3741312
Email: intdept@hrc.hu
Website: http://www.voroskereszt.hu/

Legal Basis:
Mission:

The Fundamental Principles are clear in the mission statement of the Hungarian Red Cross, which was revised at the society’s last congress held in May 2000. The International Federation’s Strategy 2010 was accepted as the basis of its development activities.

The Hungarian RC has a positive relationship with the government, especially the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Constituency:

There are 20 district branches covering all the country

Organisation/planning:

The Hungarian RC has a ten-year development plan (Strategy 2010) and annual operational plans. Current priorities include blood-donor recruitment, social welfare, fund-raising, institutional development, first aid and youth activities.

Leadership:

The General Assembly meets every year and the national assembly for election of the office-holders (the congress), every fourth year.

The 27 members of the national board elected by the congress meet quarterly and are responsible for decision-making.

The 20 branches of the society are led by branch secretaries, and branch and town branch governing bodies meet regularly throughout the year.

Challenge:

Since 1989, Hungary has been a leader within central Europe in the transition to a market economy. Hungary is now a stable parliamentary democracy.

Formerly high unemployment and inflation rates are gradually decreasing. There is a problem with new poverty in the cities and a rise in the number of homeless people. Although living standards are improving, the gap between the poorest and the richest in society is growing.

Paid staff:

About 520 persons.

Volunteers:

A total of 30,000 local volunteers. Representation is based in residential, work place and youth organizations.

Members:

The society covers all of the territory of Hungary and has approximately 320,000 members. Most categories of the population are represented among the membership.

Domestic Activities
Social aid is provided to to nearly 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers .Blood

The society has been actively involved in the recruitment of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors since 1949. For a safe blood supply Hungary needs 500,000 units a year. The recruitment of nearly 90 per cent of all blood donors is provided by the Hungarian RC. In 2000 a yearly cooperation agreement was concluded between the Hungarian RC and the National Blood Transfusion on planning, training and terms of cost contribution.
In response to the floods in recent years both in Hungary and in neighbouring countries, a disaster preparedness duty service was created at headquarters. As part of Strategy 2010 a national disaster plan was adopted in 1999 and a network of regional DP/DR warehouses created in 2000. Hungarian RC runs and/or supports 48 search and rescue teams integrated by 750 volunteers.
Programmes for the elderly include hospital visits, health services, excursions, clubs and holidays.

Health prevention and promotion

A national network of medical loan services is also provided.

Social Services

The society runs soup kitchens, shelters for abused women and children, as well as for homeless families and individuals. Rehabilitation programmes have been initiated for the inhabitants of such shelters.Assistance is also provided to convicts and ex-convicts.  Summer holidays are organized for chronically sick children, an activity that started over 20 years ago. Social aid is provided to more than 500,000 beneficiaries a year.

Tracing

The society receives about 1,255 requests in 2002 and has a success rate of one in four.

Youth

Training is carried out for individuals, including applicants for driving licences. There are almost 94,500 candidates a year for the Hungarian RC first-aid examination. There are free training courses in both primary and secondary schools.

Membership in RCRC networks:
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